Monday Musings: Looking to the Future

I spent a little bit of time this month trying to get over the holiday blues and the general negativity of the UK in lockdown, is it number 3 or 4? I forget. Anyway, one of the measures I adopted was to re-watch parts of last year’s BPA annual conference… yes, I know, I am weird. Now for those of you who have not yet had a look, I encourage you to go and watch/ listen to the recordings on our website to hear and see all the amazing speakers who took part in our three-day conference.

They really are the perfect antidote to the current doom and gloom. Each day of the conference features inspiring individuals talking positively about the future, seeing the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, and some of the benefits to have emerged from our response to COVID.

Of particular interest for me was the talk given by futurist Matt O’Neill, who opened the second day of the conference. As well as proposing some innovative new ways to use car parks, spanning everything from dating venues to farming.  He also set out his thoughts on the future for the entire working world, covering the rise of automation, the development of remote working, and the likely economic and social trends our sector can expect. A central piece of his presentation was the importance of ‘agility’ in response to challenges and future planning, whilst warning that there is a danger in becoming locked into one approach.

Now clearly, that is quite a mix but in reality, they can all join together like the links of a chain. Or put another way, they build upon each other like bricks. Let me explain.

The response to the various lockdowns and the government advice to work from home if possible has seen the mass adoption of remote working and a range of other ‘agile’ responses to ensure continuity in the workplace. This agility has centred upon the development and refinement of technologies and skills to allow people to work effectively from home, developments that are now firmly embedded, with many workplaces seeing the benefit of not just continued operation, but an engaged and interested workforce whose horizons have been broadened by the experience. Matt certainly has been… as a slight spoiler he foresees the use of holograms and even digital meeting spaces where we can work and meet in virtual reality!!!

That said, Matt is not willing to discount everything that has gone before and makes clear that the office is still going to exist in the new normal and beyond; face to face interactions are simply too vital to humans.  Leaving aside the financial implications of all those empty offices, Matt believes that we will see a hybrid office emerge combining some staff working in a traditional manner and some working remotely. I for one cannot wait to see it!!!

Now if that hasn’t got your head spinning and feeling inspired, then I’m not sure what will…but as a final thought, I think the real point of Matt’s talk, examples, ideas and conclusion is what it means for us. If we are interested in the future and believe in its promises, then we need to do all we can to bring it about. We need to take on board his examples and see how we can bring them to life. The future belongs to all of us, but it is also beholden upon us to make the future we want a reality.  

Glenn Dives, Corporate and Public Affairs Officer